"Lowering our carbon footprint within a justice transition framework, will actually lead to increased well-being from more active lifestyles, more connected communities, better health and life expectancy, fewer suicides, alongside cleaner air and rivers."

Among people concerned with climate change, it’s almost a commonplace to acknowledge that our current growth-driven economy is fundamentally part of the problem and that infinite growth on a finite planet is a logical impossibility.

Our Climate, Your Say is the government’s invitation for public input on its Zero Carbon Bill. Climate campaigner (and former Green Party co-leader) Jeanette Fitzsimons explains what she’ll be telling them.

I found myself coming away from the recent Hamilton workshop on Our Climate Declaration with a vivid picture in my mind of one easy and effective action we could take to tackle climate change in our city.

Lead-up It was particularly favourable that the workshop followed a large-scale celebration of Earth Day on the previous day. Jeanette Fitzsimons was very well-received in giving the opening talk on taking action on climate change. Joanna Santa Barbara held a stall on Our Climate Declaration and the issue of moving to a more plant-based diet, and this elicited a good deal of interest. Climate Karanga Marlborough, the local climate action group, was organised for action. Workshop participants were largely people with a high level of knowledge and activism.